Pumpkin (Pizza!) Pie with Brie, Apple and Italian Sausage

Last but not least, the main course.  I loved this crust… it’s a perfect combination of sweet and salty and the pumpkin gives it a wonderful chewiness.  I’d like to find some other toppings that would go good on this crust.  The recipe makes two pizzas, so I made one on the pizza stone (which has been working just fine ever since I realized the problem was that I was putting the pizza on the wrong side) and one on a regular baking pan.  I preferred the one on the baking pan because it was especially doughy, but if you prefer a crispier pizza, go with the stone.

Apple, Sausage and Brie Pizza on a Pumpkin Pizza Crust

From Eats Well With Others

Ingredients:

*This makes two pizzas; if you want to make only one pizza, you can freeze half the dough and you will only need half of the toppings

Pumpkin Pizza Dough

• 1 tbsp yeast (1 standard 0.25oz packet)
• 3/4 cup warm water
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup warm water
• 1 tbsp salt
• 6 cups all purpose flour flour 
• 1 1/2 cups canned pumpkin puree

Toppings

• 1 large apple
• 8 oz brie
• 12 oz ground Italian Sausage

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, mix together the yeast, 3/4 cup water, and the brown sugar.  Let sit for about five minutes or until it starts foaming.  If this never happens, then the yeast are probably dead and, yeah.  You should buy new yeast.
2. While the yeast is proofing, in a small saucepan, combine butter, salt, and 3/4 cup water.  Heat until the butter melts.  Let it cool until you can stick your finger in it without getting burned. Pour this into the yeast mixture.  Pour all of this into the bowl of a stand mixer.
3. Measure out 6 cups flour.  Mix the pumpkin puree into the stand mixer.  Mix in the flour.  Using the bread hook attachment, mix the dough on speed two for 10 minutes.  Add enough flour so that after a minute of mixing, the dough sticks more to the hook than to the sides of the bowl.  The dough should be a little sticky but not TOO wet.  For me, this took all six cups
4. Cover the bowl of the stand mixer with a damp paper towel and allow the dough to rise until doubled, about one hour.
5. Preheat oven to 475 F.
6. After the dough has risen risen, break it in half.  Sprinkle with flour and mold it into a ball.  Place on a clean surface that’s covered in flour and roll out to a desired thickness.  Repeat with other half if making both pizzas.  Place on a pizza pan or pizza stone.
7. Meanwhile, cook the sausage in a saucepan and set aside.  Cut the apples into thin pieces and slice the brie as desired.
8. Brush dough with a thin layer of olive oil; top with apples, followed by sausage, followed by brie.
9. Cook for 10-15 minutes or until bottom of dough is starting to get brown and the cheese is bubbling.

Johanna